Thursday 3 November 2011

Music As Therapy - Guest Post From Mummy!

I’ve been tagged by several people for this one and I’m finally joining in with Mammywoo’s Music As Therapy meme!  In fact, I’m not; I’ve passed it over to Mummy because she knows more songs than me.  In fact, she knows too many which is her feeble excuse for why it’s taken so long.
The idea, I think, is that she has to give you lyrics from three different songs, each by a different band, that have touched her in some way.  Is that right?  So, heeeeere’s Mummy  . . .

This post has been so much fun, but so hard!  Mammywoo’s story of ‘losing’ music for a time struck a bit of a chord with me because like her, I don’t listen to nearly as much music as I used to.  It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but has been distinctly lacking recently.  My husband would far rather watch television than listen to music, and he’s not so keen on seeing live music.  Concerts used to be a regular thing for me, since my uncle took me to see Peter Gabriel when I was sixteen, but I can count the number of bands I’ve seen live in the last five years on one hand, without troubling my thumb.
I have an iPod which is regularly my companion on the train and it never fails to amaze me how a song can transport me somewhere completely different, and how something I’ve not heard for a while can evoke such strong memories.  Music can change my mood in an instant.
The tricky thing has been narrowing it down.  My favourite band changes with the wind, and so my favourite song very much depends on my mood.  It does feel odd to me to have a list that doesn’t have any Pulp in there.  Or U2.  Or REM!  But, rules are rules – 3 only – and this is what I thought tonight.
The song I always listen to when I think I need to pull myself together after a tough day at work or when I’m frustrated by something someone has done or said to me is Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be.”  I’m a pretty emotional person – I wear my heart on my sleeve – and this song reminds that that’s ok but helps me channel some of that emotion more positively.  Here is the first verse and the chorus:
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers they may cause your tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted don't be 'shamed to cry

You gotta be, you gotta be bad
You gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know love will save the day
Next up, Guns ‘n’ Roses.  Bet you never expected to see them beside Des’ree in a playlist!  My music taste is nothing if not eclectic.
I’m not posting the full song because although I love the whole thing, lots of people know it and it's a long one, sorry - over eight minutes if you listen!  Of course I think of someone in particular when I hear the song, but not an ex boyfriend as you might expect.  We’ll leave it there. 
Do you need some time...on your own
Do you need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone

I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you

Sometimes I need some time...on my own
Sometimes I need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain
And finally, Supertramp’s The Logical Song.  I used to be quite idealistic but sadly that’s long gone.  I want to try and protect CB’s innocence and keep her cynicism-free for as long as possible.  I’m often pretty cynical about Society these days!
When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily,
joyfully, playfully watching me.
But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
clinical, intellectual, cynical.

There are times when all the world's asleep,
the questions run too deep
for such a simple man.
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
but please tell me who I am.

Now watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical,liberal, fanatical, criminal.
Won't you sign up your name, we'd like to feel you're acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable!

At night, when all the world's asleep, the questions run so deep for such a simple man.
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am.

CB will be back tomorrow and normal service resumed.  If you got this far, thank you for reading!
CB’s Mummy

2 comments:

  1. Love all of them! This is the first of these posts I've sung as I read!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Elizabeth! So excited to think you sang along!

    ReplyDelete

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